Phalaenopsis orchid plant named &#39;valley buzz&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Valley Buzz’ particularly characterized by flowers which are white with purple stripes and a purple with red/purple striped labellum; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Phalaenopsis hybrida

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Valley Buzz’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceaefamily, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Valley Buzz’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceousperennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable forcultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantlyepiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the MalayArchipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy,oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodialgrowth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. Theleaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in thehorticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for theflorist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home orinteriorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often withmany showy flowers which open in succession beginning with thelowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; thelateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, isthree-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flowersegments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellowand red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexualpropagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots whichfrequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. Theresulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be plantedin a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Valley Buzz’ is a product of a controlled breedingprogram conducted by the inventor, Rene Schoone, in Strengweg,Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was todevelop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by itsattractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissueculture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging andshipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Valley Buzz’ originated from a cross made by theinventor in 2001 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female orseed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Minho Princess’,unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivardesignated ‘Taisuco Jewel’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘ValleyBuzz’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single floweringplant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environmentin 2009 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culture(mericloning) was first performed in November, 2009 in Cieweg 13,Heemskerk, The Netherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction. The new cultivar asexually reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘Valley Buzz’, which in combinationdistinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. flowers which are white with purple stripes and a purple withred/purple striped labellum;

2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;

3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissueculture;

4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and

5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Valley Buzz’, the femaleparent ‘Minho Princess’ is white with purple stripes on the edges and onthe labellum. The male parent ‘Taisuco Jewel’ is purple with a smallwhite edge and a red/purple labellum, whereas the flowers of ‘ValleyBuzz’ are white with purple stripes and a purple with red/purple stripedlabellum.

Presently, the commercial cultivar to which ‘Valley Buzz’ can bemeaningfully compared is ‘Maryland’ (unpatented). The flowers of‘Maryland’ are about 7 cm, whereas the flowers of ‘Valley Buzz’ areabout 6 cm. The flowers of ‘Valley Buzz’ have more purple stripes on thepetals and sepals and more white in the labellum than the flowers of‘Maryland’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Phalaenopsis ‘Valley Buzz’ showing the colors as true as isreasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors inthe photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of‘Valley Buzz’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of‘Valley Buzz’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical flower of ‘Valley Buzz’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Valley Buzz’

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Valley Buzz’ has not been observed underall possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivarmay vary with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of theplant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Valley Buzz’as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, underconditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercialpractice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘ValleyBuzz’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the floweringphase of ‘Valley Buzz’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C.during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘ValleyBuzz’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balancedfertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied.Duration of growth of ‘Valley Buzz’ from potting size is between 10 and14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditionsat approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. Theage of the ‘Valley Buzz’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrida.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated            ‘Minho Princess’, unpatented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated            ‘Taisuco Jewel’, unpatented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—tissue culture.        -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 4 mm-7            mm wide and greyed/green in color (RHS 190B); freely            branching. It takes 12 weeks for plants growing in tissue            culture to initiate roots.-   Plant:    -   -   Size at maturity.—Height (from bottom of pot to highest            flower): about 50 cm Spread: about 45 cm.        -   Growth habit.—small; green leaves (RHS N137A) and a            relatively normal raceme.        -   Vigor.—moderate.        -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks            2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after            a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of            about 19° C. about 1-3 racemes with flowers appear.-   Foliage:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6-10 leaves are produced before            flowering.        -   Arrangement and attachment.—half up/horizontal and on two            sides.        -   Overall shape of leaf.—oval; the tip is blunt and            asymmetric.        -   Texture (upper & underside).—smooth and leathery.        -   Pubescence.—none.        -   Mature leaf length.—about 20 cm.        -   Mature leaf width.—about 8 cm.        -   Mature leaf thickness.—about 2 mm.        -   Mature leaf color.—upper side: green (RHS N137A). Under            side: green (137B).        -   Leaf base.—acute.        -   Margin.—entire.        -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel Color of midvein: upper side:            green (RHS 136A) Under side: green (RHS 137C).-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—upright to slightly pendant, racemose            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.-   Raceme:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—about 1 to 3.        -   Number of flowers per raceme.—about 21.        -   Length.—about 40 cm.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—about 10 mm.        -   Diameter.—about 3 mm.        -   Strength.—strong.        -   Aspect.—upright.        -   Texture.—glabrous and smooth.        -   Color.—green (RHS 137B).        -   Internode.—Length: about 30 mm.-   Buds:    -   -   Height (from base to tip).—about 16 mm.        -   Diameter (at midpoint).—about 13 mm. Shape: oval/egg-shaped            with a bump on one side Color: yellow/green (RHS 145A and            RHS 145C) with purple (RHS N78A) Orientation: same as            flowers (forward facing).        -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that            has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a            temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after            a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 1-3            racemes appear with flower buds and flowers. First flowers            can be expected approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a            plant with a leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.        -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;            lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.        -   Fragrance.—no fragrance.        -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3            days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at            opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: Typical shape of            Phalaenopsis; see FIG. 2 Size (of single bloom): Height:            about 55 mm Diameter: about 60 mm Quantity and arrangement:            three petals and three sepals that are trimerous,            overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals are more            pronounced than sepals.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Inner whorl comprises 3 petals: 2            lateral petals and a labellum. 2 lateral petals: Overall            shape: broadly ovate (little triangular) and weakly cupped            Apex: oval Margin: entire and weakly undulate (crenated)            Base: broadly ovate Length: about 34 mm Width: about 29 mm            Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny Under surface:            smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened): upper side &            under side: white (RHS NN155D) with purple stripes (RHS            N78A). Labellum: Overall shape: 3-lobed with 2 prominent            callosities at central junction of the lateral lobes and            base of the midlobe. Lateral lobes of labellum fold upward            about the column; the midlobe extends forward and is            terminated by 2 filiform appendages at the apex. Lateral            lobes of the labellum are ovate in shape while the midlobe            is triangular with a bump and a rib on it Margin: entire and            weakly undulate Apex: oval Length: about 20 mm Width (not            flattened): about 19 mm Depth of tube created by lateral            lobes of labellum: about 8 mm Texture: Upper & under            surface: smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened): Mid            lobe, upper side: at the base a little white (RHS NN155D)            and yellow (RHS 12B). Main color is purple (RHS N78A) with            red/purple stripes (RHS 59A). Under side: white (RHS            NN155D). At the base the edges are yellow (RHS 12B). Purple            stripes (RHS N78A) and red/purple (RHS 59A). Lateral lobes,            upper and under side: at the base white (RHS NN155D) and            yellow (RHS 12B) with purple stripes (RHS 78A) upper edge            purple/violet (RHS N80A). Cirrhi: about 5 mm color: purple            (RHS N79A and RHS N79C) Pestle (Callosities): Length: about            6 mm Width (not flattened): about 6 mm Color: yellow (RHS            11A) with red/purple spots (RHS 72A).        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals, one            dorsal and two lateral sepals Overall shape: elliptical and            weakly cupped Margin: entire and weakly undulate Length:            about 24 mm Width: about 19 mm Apex: oval; dorsal has little            notch and lateral sepals are little pointy Texture: Upper            and under surface: smooth and satiny.        -   Color (when fully opened).—Upper side, dorsal and lateral:            white (RHS NN155D) with purple/violet stripes (RHS N81A).            Under side, dorsal: main color is white (RHS NN155D) with a            green/white haze (RHS 157A). At the base a yellow/green haze            (RHS 145C). Further purple/violet stripes (RHS N81A).            Lateral: white (MS NN155D) with a yellow/green haze (RHS            145C) and purple/violet stripes (RHS N81A).        -   Pedicel.—Length: about 30 mm Diameter: about 3 mm Texture:            glabrous and smooth Color: green/white (RHS 157A) and            yellow/green (RHS 144A).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a            single, short structure called the column, possessing one            terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,            which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located            under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior            with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.        -   Column.—Length: about 9 mm Diameter: about 4 mm Color:            pred/urple (RHS 72A and RHS 70B).        -   Pollinia.—Quantity: two Diameter: about 2 mm Color: orange            (RHS 26A).        -   Ovary.—Length: about 3 mm Diameter: about 3 mm Color: white            (RHS NN155D).-   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.    and to a high temperature about 30° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named‘Valley Buzz’, as illustrated and described herein.